The moment, no sooner: 〜や否や
動詞辞書形 + や否や／や
Dictionary verb + や否や（や）= “no sooner A than B”: B follows A immediately, for real facts. For a plan, it's 〜次第.
In short
A や否や B means “no sooner A than B, the moment A, B”. B happens immediately after A, often abruptly. It relates real facts, almost always in the past; the subjects of A and B can be different. The short form 〜や is even more literary. Written register: narrative, the press.
- ベルが鳴るや否や、生徒たちは教室を飛び出した。ベルがなるやいなや、せいとたちはきょうしつをとびだした。No sooner had the bell rung than the pupils rushed out of the classroom.
- 新製品は発売されるや否や、たちまち売り切れた。しんせいひんははつばいされるやいなや、たちまちうりきれた。The new product sold out the moment it went on sale.
- 彼は席に着くや、資料を読み始めた。かれはせきにつくや、しりょうをよみはじめた。The moment he sat down, he began reading the documents.
The basics
否 (いな) means “no”. A や否や is literally “A, or not yet?”: you don't even have time to tell whether A is over before B is already there. Hence the meaning “no sooner… than, the moment…”.
The construction is lively in narratives and articles: it adds pace and suddenness.
No sooner had the bell rung than they rushed outside.
- noun
- verb
- grammatical form
- ベルが鳴るや否や、飛び出した。ベルがなるやいなや、とびだした。No sooner had the bell rung than they rushed outside.
- 首相の発言が報じられるや否や、批判が相次いだ。しゅしょうのはつげんがほうじられるやいなや、ひはんがあいついだ。The moment the Prime Minister's remarks were reported, criticism came thick and fast.
How to form it
Add や否や (or simply や) to the dictionary form, even when the narrative is in the past. The tense is given by the end of the sentence.
| Verb | Construction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| dictionary | 鳴る + や否や | ベルが鳴るや否や |
| passive | される + や否や | 発表されるや否や |
| short form | 着く + や | 席に着くや |
| to avoid | × 鳴ったや否や | never the た-form |
- 合格者の名前が発表されるや否や、会場は歓声に包まれた。ごうかくしゃのなまえがはっぴょうされるやいなや、かいじょうはかんせいにつつまれた。The moment the names of the successful candidates were announced, the hall erupted in cheers.
Facts, not plans
や否や describes what happened, or what happens every time (a general observation). The second part is never a wish, a request or an order: “着くや否や電話してください” is impossible. For “as soon as… (I'll do)”, you use 〜次第 or 〜たらすぐ.
- 東京に着き次第、お電話します。とうきょうにつきしだい、おでんわします。I'll call you as soon as I get to Tokyo.
や否や, とたん, が早いか, なり, 次第
とたん (N3) is more common and often linked to something unexpected. が早いか stresses near-simultaneous speed. なり requires the same subject and a surprising reaction. 次第 is the only one used for the future and for intentions.
| Form | Register | Particularity |
|---|---|---|
| 〜たとたん | everyday | often something unexpected |
| 〜や否や | written | any subjects, real facts |
| 〜が早いか | written, narrative | speed, almost simultaneous |
| 〜なり | written, narrative | same subject, unexpected reaction |
| 〜次第 | polite, everyday | future, intentions, requests |
- 外に出たとたん、雨が降り出した。そとにでたとたん、あめがふりだした。The very moment I went outside, it started to rain.
Common mistakes
- Using the た-form: you say 読むや否や, not “読んだや否や”.
- Expressing a plan or a request after や否や: for the future, it's 〜次第.
- Using it in casual conversation: や否や belongs to writing and narrative.
7 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N1 point is on the Nishi-Kyūshū Line (Trade and the economy) of the Shinkansen.